A Blogging Break

Hi,

Thank you for stopping by!

I will be on a blogging break until October 2 or 3.

My break is starting earlier than anticipated because after a week of me being sick, now Miss Pear has what I had just as bad as I did, which is really disappointing as she is usually very healthy!

Any how, see you in a week and a half, hopefully very refreshed, restored, and full of new stories and blogging ideas!

While I am gone, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on a couple things:

1. What you would like to see in the final official freezer meals series (as I cook, and freeze meals, there will always be posts on this, but I want to finish up the promised series!)
2. How you are doing settling into your new fall schedules and any tips you have for me on that one!
3. Current favorite book - I am kind of at loose ends finding good books to read lately.
4. Favorite Children's books - Miss Pear needs some new books, she is a voracious reader - you say to bring one book, and she brings 3!
5. What your quiet time looks like, what you are studying, when you study, where, and your general thoughts on this in general as it seems like I NEVER get as much of this as I would like!

See you soon!

FIF - Creamed Cheese Grilled Cheese

We love grilled cheese sandwiches, and we love cream cheese, so we combined the two to get this delicious and quick sandwich.

Creamed Cheese Grilled Cheese

Butter the outside of piece of bread #1 with butter, place in frying pan heated to a low medium, and butter the inside with cream cheese (or place thinly cut slices to cover). Place favorite cheese slices over top of that, and top with piece of bread #2 that has the outside buttered!

Cook until first side is golden brown, flip and cook until second side is golden brown, and if your pan was not too hot, the inside should be nicely melted.

Serve with ketchup or salsa!

Sooooo yummy!

SCT - Spaghetti Sauce

I originally shared this recipe here as a freezer recipe, and linked to a couple other great recipes in that post too. But this is a family favorite, and the only spaghetti sauce I use with any consistency. I learned to make it in Home Economics in Jr. High, and then tweaked the recipe like crazy to get this!

Seeing both my daughter and I am feeling under the weather today I am very grateful to have a meal of this sauce in the freezer to pull out!

Mrs. Pear's Spaghetti Sauce

2 packages of 1 and a 1/3 lb ground turkey
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
3-4 green peppers chopped (or more)
4x395mL can tomato sauce (medium size can)
3x156mL can tomato paste (small can)
1 tbsp sugar
1/8 – 1/4 cup dried oregano (depending on how strong the oregano is)
4 cloves crushed garlic
2 bay leaves
pepper

Brown turkey, (I usually do one package at a time with 3-4 grinds of pepper) place in slow cooker.

Saute onions and garlic in good olive oil (if possible, if not, whatever will work), place in slow cooker.

Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on high for at least 4 hours, or on low for at least 8 hours.

I use this sauce to make Lasagna too!

BSF and Blessings

Today was the first day of Miss Pear and I going to BSF together. Last night it was questionable as I was so sick with a head cold that even my ears were plugging up and I could not breath and I felt horrible.

But God is so good His children, and today I felt much better, and we went to class.

I was a bit nervous about leaving Miss Pear as she has not been left in the Church nursery or the like, she always came to church with us, and with no family around and the last year we have had, she has not been left with babysitters either. But she was happy to go, and was happy when I picked her up. The leaders said she did great, so that was nice too.

On the way home I was asking Miss Pear about her morning. I asked her what she learned and she said “I learned about God”.

Then I asked if she had fun and she said yup.

When I asked her if we should do this every Tuesday morning she said yes very enthusiastically.

Oh, and I asked her if they sang songs and she said yes. I asked her which song they sang, and she said “I sang about God.’

So clearly she understands the important things because she could not tell me what her snack was, or what she played.

I am so thankful! And now I think I will go have a nap.

Menu Plan Monday - September 15-22

I had these great plans of baking muffins, cookies and bread this week, as well as canning more pears and making pear butter. But I have a cold that has taken up residence in my sinuses, and the pears are very green still, so I just shoved them in the fridge to deal with later on....

Saturday

Breakfast - Waffles
Lunch - Pizza Rolls
Supper - Chicken and Stuffing with beans

Sunday

Breakfast - Toast (Rye or Cinnamon Swirl) and cereal
Lunch - Hamburgers
Supper - Lazy Lasagna

Monday

Breakfast** - Toast and cereal
Lunch - Lasagna Leftovers
Supper - Pesto Stuffed Chicken and Rice

Tuesday - Family Movie Night (We are taping the Backyardigans Super Secret Super Spy Monday night)

Breakfast - Granola and Yogurt
Lunch - Chicken Salad sandwiches
Supper - Movie Night - Pizza and cake with a side of popcorn

Wednesday

Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Pizza Leftovers
Supper - Sweet and Sour Meatballs and rice


Thursday

Breakfast - Granola and Yogurt
Lunch - sandwiches
Supper - Orange Apricot Glazed Pork Chops and rice

Friday

Breakfast - cereal
Lunch - sandwiches
Supper - Enchilada Meatballs and rice

Saturday

Breakfast - cereal and toast
Lunch - out with friends
Supper - Burgers

Breads
3 Flour Bread~
Winnipeg Rye Bread (recipe is getting close, just a bit more tweaking!)
Oatmeal Bread ~


Cookies
Mrs. U's gingersnaps
Chocolate Crinkles
Lemon Cookies
Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin
Granola Chips
Fruit Cocktail Cookies

Loaves and Muffins
Tropical Muffins
Banana Berry Muffins
Berry Oat Muffins
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Other
Can yet more pears when they ripen
Pear Butter
Cake for Movie Night
Granola
Granola Bars

~ from the More with Less Cookbook (can be found on my sidebar if you want to check it out) I am trying to cook through this cookbook a bit, so I am trying to make one thing a week from it.
** During the week it is just Miss Pear and I for lunch, so we eat some strange lunches....

Frugal Friday - Call and Ask!

Lately they have been running big promotions at the grocery stores near me, but do not put all the information in the flier! This makes me nuts because we only have one car, so often it is a family outing to buy groceries. So I don't want to wander around the store finding all the stuff, while my sweet daughter rearranges the shelves and my husband tries to wrangle her while I try to figure out if it is a good price and if I have a coupon for the item included on the store's promotion. Nor do I want to drive all the way there to find out the whole wheat flour I need is not included in the promotion.

So I have just started calling the corporate number or emailing to ask my questions.

This week Vons and Pavilions is doing a $20 of 20 items promotion but do not show all the things included, so I emailed, explaining my need and why, and they emailed me back a 26 page word document with all the included items! I could then sort it to my hearts content! I still want to check the prices at the store before I commit to specific things, but I have a list of the items that I have corresponding coupons to, or that are on the list that I REALLY need, so most of the work is done!

Most stores want your business and will either post more info on their web sites, or happily answer your questions because at they end of the day they know it means sales and happy customers.

This little tip has not only saved me money by allowing me to plan better, it has saved me time, frustration, and gas money!

For lots of great tips, head on over to Crystal's!

FIF - Southwest Skillet

This is a favorite quick meal around here courtesy of Campbell's originally, but I have messed with it, so they might not recognize it! :-) The leftovers make wonderful lunches!

Southwest Skillet

1 x 1 1/3 lb package of ground turkey
1 tbsp chili powder
1 can condensed golden mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
1 can kidney beans rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup minute rice

Serve with:
Shredded cheddar cheese
Crumbled tortilla chips
Salsa

Brown ground turkey, mix in chili powder. Mix in soup and water, bring to a low boil. Add kidney beans, tomatoes, bring back to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add rice, bring to a boil and simmer on low until ready to serve, stirring frequently, at least 5 minutes.

Just a little bit scattered

So this past week has been strange. Our new fall schedule is starting, so we are adding BSF on Tuesday mornings (provided there is room in the children's class for Miss Pear - Please Lord!) and play group on Mondays so that we can meet more people in our new city. We are almost decided on our new church home, so we will be meeting with the pastor with our questions and will see.

So I don't really know what I am doing right now, my schedules are not really working because there is new stuff thrown in all over the place. And we are back to teething 2 year molars (top ones this time). So I am working on new schedules for us so that I have some kind of guide so theoretically everything gets done.

We are trying to figure it out, but this week has been a wash on almost everything, and it will not settle down until October 2 - I will be taking a bloggy break the last week of September, and it appears that I might be a bit sporadic between now and then while I get this all figured out.

I just keep reminding myself that the Lord is going to get me through this and straightened out again, He always does! And He is faithful, it is not like He is going to suddenly abandon me now!

So tell me, PLEASE, how do you get it all done?

View in my Kitchen Part 2

So today's task was to can pears for the first time. All by myself.

We got the pears at a farmer's market on Saturday, and they are HUGE! I could only fit one per pint! (yes, even after cutting them in quarters!) So I have 10 lovely pints sitting on my counter. And the sound of the jars sealing makes me smile.

It was a fair bit of work, but I just kept thinking about how much this was going to bless my family, and it encouraged me to keep going!

Pears are on sale here this week - 3 lbs for $0.99! So I am going to pick up so more pears to can, and some pears to make pear butter. The plan will be to do this Saturday morning so that a little sweet girl will have her daddy to play with whilst I am canning away!

WFMW - Plan to be sick

Well, I was going to say nothing, that I have officially run out of creative ideas. But then inspiration struck. Really, right upside the head!

Plan to be sick.

We all know cold and flu season is right around the corner, and we all have nights we sleep horribly and feel like zombies the next day. We moms have weeks of sick children, and sometimes even husbands!

This is going to happen eventually, and cold and flu season is on the horizon, so start planning for it:

1. Check your medicine cabinet and throw out everything that is expired.
2. Make a list of everything you need and start watching for sales and coupons.
3. Create a reading stash for all who need it - 1 or 2 books each will do it.
4. For little ones consider having a DVD or surprise of some sort tucked away.
5. Have some quick meals in the freezer or ingredients for a super quick meal in the pantry (and make a list.)
6. While you are in your pantry, check to see what you need - favorite canned soups? juices? crackers? Add it to the list to watch for sales!
   

So what did I forget?

Amy Wilhoite

I have been reading Brandon and Amy's blog for a long time, long before I even considered blogging myself, and it broke my heart to read of this young wife and mother battling leukemia. I have been praying for just as long, asking the Lord to have mercy on this young wife and mom, on this young family. It broke my heart to read that she passed away today.

She endured her entire sickness with her eyes on the Lord, and was such an encouragement to me, such an example of faith. No matter how she suffered, how things looked from an earthly perspective, her posts focused on the Lord, and her situation with a focus on His perspective of them.

And in his sad announcement, her husband, Brandon, exhibits that same strong faith in the Lord.

Sometimes the little things in life get us down, and we are reminded in the sovereignty of our Lord, and that perspective check changes everything.

View in my Kitchen

My kitchen looks well loved at the moment. But all the dishes are running through the dishwasher, and the fruits of my labor are lined up neatly on the counter - 9 and a half pints of million dollar relish.

While this may not seem like a big deal when so many skilled women are canning quart after quart of gardeny goodness, I did not grow up with canning or even gardening. This is my very first attempt at relish, and all the jars sealed but one stubborn little one that I stuck in the fridge, hoping that it will relent.

So after our naps I will wash the floor, and again rejoice in the site of my 9 pint jars and one little jar of relish.

Next year I hope to grow my own cucumbers for relish and pickles (next years "first"), but this year our canning cucumbers were purchased from a local farmers market.

Menu Plan Monday - September 8-15

The heat wave broke, and now it is time to get serious about getting caught up on my baking, and doing a very small amount of canning - Million Dollar Relish, and one batch of pears.

Saturday

Breakfast - Overnight French Toast
Lunch - Pizza Rolls
Supper - Out

Sunday

Breakfast - Toast (Rye or Cinnamon Swirl) and cereal
Lunch - Taco Chili
Supper - Italian Sausage and Tomato Pasta

Monday

Breakfast** - Toast and cereal
Lunch - Chili Leftovers
Supper - Lemon Garlic Chicken (Slow Cooker) and Rice

Tuesday

Breakfast - Granola and Yogurt
Lunch - Chicken Salad sandwiches
Supper - Taco Pie and coleslaw (Taco Pie Recipe to be posted this week)

Wednesday

Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Ssandwiches
Supper - Stromboni and coleslaw


Thursday

Breakfast - Granola and Yogurt
Lunch - stromboni leftovers
Supper - Chicken and Stuffing (Slow cooker) and broccoli

Friday

Breakfast - cereal
Lunch - sandwiches
Supper - BBQ Burgers

Saturday

Breakfast - Pancakes
Lunch - Still thinking....
Supper - Chicken Fried Rice

Breads
3 Flour Bread~
Winnipeg Rye Bread (recipe is getting close, just a bit more tweaking!)
Oatmeal Bread ~


Cookies
Mrs. U's gingersnaps
Chocolate Crinkles
Lemon Cookies
Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin
Granola Chips
Fruit Cocktail Cookies

Loaves and Muffins
Tropical Muffins
Banana Berry Muffins
Berry Oat Muffins
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Other
Million Dollar Relish
Can Pears
Brownies
Granola
Granola Bars

~ from the More with Less Cookbook (can be found on my sidebar if you want to check it out) I am trying to cook through this cookbook a bit, so I am trying to make one thing a week from it.
** During the week it is just Miss Pear and I for lunch, so we eat some strange lunches....

FIF - Zesty Ziti

When you need a quick meal with an Italian flair, might I recommend:

Zesty Ziti
Quick and delicious

1 lb Italian sausage cut into about quarter to half inch pieces (or bought without casings,
in which case it can just be scramble fried)
1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
28 oz (1 large jar, two standard jars) of pasta sauce
4 1/2 cups hot cooked ziti (tube shaped pasta)

Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese

In a medium skillet cook sausage, onion and pepper until sausage is cooked. Pour off fat.

Add pasta sauce. Heat to a boil.

Then either serve over ziti topped with parmesan cheese. Or mix all together, put in casserole, sprinkle mozzarella cheese and a bit of parmesan cheese over top and bake at 350F until cheese is melted.

We always use the oven version, but when it is hot or time is short, you can easily skip that step!

Happy Friday!

P.S. If I am a little bit invisible for the next few days with comments and email please bear with me, my wrist is acting up in this heat change, and typing is very difficult. If I rest it should be better quickly, but then I just have to be careful to avoid over doing it!

Frugal Friday - New Savings Forums

For a while now I have been relying on Families.com for my savings tips and information, checking their sites for:

CVS
Walgreens
Vons/Pavilions

But I was recently introduced to Hot Coupon World, and am finding much more information on their pages, so I check their pages for:
CVS
Walgreens
Vons/Pavilions
Ralph's
Albertsons (Western Region)

I am finding lots of information there that I would not have noticed otherwise, and people seem more willing to share what they did to get the deals! Of course, these forums are only as good as the information shared, so be sure to share your findings too!

Blogger is not letting me put the link in the picture, so you can find Crystal here.